Fungi? Mold? Bacteria?

[admsteiner]

My Dendro's leaves have been turning black and starting to wilt. I noticed some white stuff but ignored it. The underneath was covered by white, from the white border and up the leaves were dead. I lost a Phal to this a month or so back. Any ideas or suggestions?

Nothing flying around, no movement I can see. Just this white fluffy stuff.

Pics attached.

Thanks!

-A
PS: If you need better pictures, let me know. Took these off my blackberry...

[calvin_orchidL]

Not too clear from the photos but you may have mealy bugs which manifest as nasty white fluff (the bugs are small and inside the fluff)..google mealybugs and see if that's what you have. Get rid of them ASAP as they really suck and will spread to everything. Safers End All works

[got ants]

Cricket damage?

Just bustin on ya. Though that with the crickets, maybe you need to replant your chids and eliminate some of the decaying material?

[admsteiner]

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

Not too clear from the photos but you may have mealy bugs which manifest as nasty white fluff (the bugs are small and inside the fluff)..google mealybugs and see if that's what you have. Get rid of them ASAP as they really suck and will spread to everything. Safers End All works

Thanks! That was exactly the problem. Wiped off what I could see, found one of my trusty sprays that lists mealybugs and had a whirl. I'll be keeping a very careful eye over the next few weeks and pouncing whenever I see them...